Animal-trap.



YPATENTBD JULY 21, 1903'.

T. J. FOREMAN. ANIMAL TRAP. APPLIOATION FILED MAY 19, 1902 N0 MODEL.

7 fiZMgEIVTOR ay/ WITNESSES g. 76

ATTORNEYJ.

- UNITED STATES Patented July 21, 1903.

THOMAS JAMES FOREMAN, OF SPECHT, OHIO.

ANIMAL-TRAP.

tSLPEGIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 734,413, dated July 21, 1903.

' Application filed May 19, 1902. $erial No. 107,889. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS JAMES FORE- MAN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Specht, county of Carroll, and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in AnimaLTraps, of which,

the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

This invention relates to animal-traps, the object thereof being to provide an improved device of this character which is of durable and simple construction and which is effect} ive in general operation.

The whole device is composed of wire of a single gage, and it embodies spring-actuated members for simultaneous and automatic action in both a downward and a lateral direction for the purpose of effectually ensnaring the animal.

The invention will be hereinafter fully described, and specifically set forth in the annexed claims.

In the accompanying drawings,formingpart of this specification, Figure 1 is a side eleva- .v tion of my improved trap, showing the same set in full lines and sprungin dotted lines; and Fig. 2 is a plan View.

In the practice of my invention I employ primarily a spiral spring A, embodying any suitable number of coils. One terminal of this spring is extended to form the loop B, which embodies the top part b and the bow b, the terminal end of the bow having an elongated loop 1, which is coupled with an eye 2,

' forming part of the part1). The other end of the spring A is extended to form the presserrod 0, which is adapted to swing downwardly by the tension of the spring to press the animalwithin the boWB. These parts are constructed of a single piece of resilient metallic wire.

Swinging within the loop 1 at the terminal end of the bow b is the trip-pedal D, which is also composed of wire and embodies the elongated loop forming the pedal d, the eye cl, which interlocks with the'loopl, and the hook 01 which is adapted for engaging the free end of the swinging latch-bar E. This bar acts to set the trap and also to choke or onsna-re the animal. The latch-bar E is pivotally attached by means of its eye a to an eye 3, formed on the part?) of the loop B.

The presser-rod C has a loop 0, forming part thereof, which surrounds the bar E for the purpose of operating the device, as will be hereinafter described. The spring A is expansible, whereby the presser-bar 0 nor mally occupies the relative position indicated by dotted lines, Fig. 1 of the drawings, the

expansion being limited by reason of the loop 0 contacting with the bow b. r In the operation and use of the invention when it is desired to set the trap the presserrod O'is forced against the tension of the spring into the position shown by full lines, Fig. 1 of the drawings. The latch-bar E is then looked within the hook d of the trip pedal D, with the loop 01 of the pedal extended upwardly and surrounding the lower end of the bow l). The trap is then placed in upright position contiguous to the inlet of an animals burrow, sothat the animal when passing in either direction through the loop B is required to step on the pedal and by his weight trip the bar E, whereupon the action of the. spring causes the rod 0 to rapidly move downwardly and by reason of its loop 0 carry the bar E toward the upright part of the bow I), thus effectually ensnaring the animal.

The trap may also be used to catch rats,

mice, or other vermin, and it may be baited by placing a small quantity of food upon the loop (Z of the pedal D.

I do not confine myself to the exact contour of the parts as herein shown and described, as it is obvious that under the scope of my invention I am entitled to slight variations.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an animal-trap, the combination with the spiral spring having the vertical loop extended from one end thereof and the presser bar from the other, the pr'esser-bar having a lateral loop, of the latch-bar.pivoted to an eye of the upper part of the said vertical loop,

and operating within the loop of the lateral presser-rod, and the trip-pedal engaging an eye formed in the upper part of said vertical loop and having the hook for engagement with the latch-bar for locking the parts in set position, substantially as shown and described.

52. In an animal-trap, the combination with the spring A, the bow B, integral therewith formed with the elongated loop 1 and eyes 2 and 3, and arranged so that the elongated loop 1, rigidly engages with the eye 2, the presser-rod C, also integral with the said spring A, and formed with the loop 0, and the latch-bar E, formed With the eye 6, and arranged to engage the said eye 3 of the bow B therewith and also to extend through and be engaged by the loop 0, of the resser-rod O, of the trip-pedal D, formed With the elongated loop (1, embracing the lower part of said how, the eye (1, and the hook (Z arranged to interlock the said elongated loop 1, With its eye (1, and with its hook (P, to engage and hold the latch-bar E, and to release said bar, when pressure is applied to said loop (Z.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name, in presence of two Witnesses, this 20th day of March, 1902.

THOMAS JAMES FOREMAN.

Vitnesses:

JOHN W. RUTLEDGE, Rosa RUTLEDGE. 

